39 



varifs. 1 have seen 5 on one caterpillar; and the number of larvae 

 which I have seen feeding upon one caterpillar varies from 1 to 

 28 probably all laid by the same female. 



The adult parasite must sting the host caterpillar before laying 

 its eggs, for the caterpillars have the habit of squirming very 

 actively when disturbed, and falling to the ground. 



The caterpillars always appear to be dead whenever found with 

 parasites or their eggs, but probably they are only paralyzed by 

 th(» sting of the parasite, as is done by certain wasps which store 

 up caterpillars and spiders for food for their larvae. Often on 

 examination of these apparently dead caterpillars which have 

 parasite eggs or small larvae present, pulsations can be seen in 

 the dorsal vessel. 



The eggs are wdiite, or slightly j^ellowish, % mm. long. They 

 hatch in a day or two, and the young larvae have a very rapid 

 development. They are footless grubs, and feed externally 

 (Plate V, tig. 3), biting into the caterpillar and consuming its 

 juices. In one instance under observation, they had become full- 

 grown (4 mm.) in three days, and begun spinning coa)ons; 

 cocoons were finished the next day; three days after, the pupae 

 were formed; and after five more days the adults appeared. This 

 giv(^s the life cycle as 13 to 14 days. From this same lot another 

 generation was bred to maturity in exactly 14 days. 



Tlie cocoons (Plate V, fig. 4) are made in a cluster on the 

 surface of the cane leaf close by the dried up remains of the dead 

 caterpillar. The pupa is whitish at first, but ])ecomes black in a 

 few days, l:»efore the adult is formed. The adults emerge by 

 eating. a round hole near one end of the cocoon. 

 Hyperparasite. {Euryto))ia sp.) 



In Dec, 1<)05, I bred 9 of tliis Clialcid from a cluster of Macro- 

 dye ti urn co('oons. This cluster of 10 cocoons was collected at 

 Naalchu, Hawaii, on a sugar cane leaf wdiere a cane leaf-roller 

 liad lived liefore being attacked by the parasite. After 16 days, 

 i) adults Ci females and 2 males) of this hyperparasite emerged— 

 one per Macrodyctiuui cocoon. Dissection of the 10th cocoon, 

 disclosed a dead adult Macrodydium . I have collected this 

 Chalcid from cane-fields. in Hamakua, Hawaii; and in April, 

 1907, I bred quite a number from cocoons of MacrodycHum, 

 collected from palm trees in Honolulu, where the larvae of Macro- 



